Report: Patriots Sent Draft Pick For Athletic Offensive Tackle

The New England Patriots struggled on offense in 2019, and this failure shut down their chance to win a Super Bowl. It looks like the team is ready for a big change, and they have already made an attempt to add depth to the offensive unit. But, this didn’t match their expectations. The Patriots sent a 2020 sixth-round draft pick to the Arizona Cardinals for offensive tackle Korey Cunningham. The team also traded a fourth-round pick for guard Jermaine Eluemunor and a sixth-round pick and got center Russell Bodine from the Buffalo Bills for a sixth-round pick.

Well, none of these players became a top backup for Tom Brady’s team. Bodine was cut before Week 1. Marshall Newhouse passed Cunningham on the depth chart and became the Patriots’ swing tackle. Ted Karras and James Ferentz became the team’s top interior offensive line reserves over Eluemunor.

Cunningham is signed through the 2021 season. Eluemunor will become a restricted free agent. Bodine joined the Detroit Lions.

The Patriots may need another offensive tackle

There’s no guarantee for Cunningham’s future with the Patriots. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn and right tackle Marcus Canon will probably take the starting position in 2020. New England also has 2019 third-round pick Yodny Cajuste on the roster. Analysts predict that the Patriots will add a few more players at the position.

The Cardinals selected Cunnngham in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. He started six games in his rookie campaign and let up two sacks, two quarterback hits and 14 hurries with Arizona. Cunningham played just 59 snaps with the Patriots in 2019 and allowed two hurries.

But, Cunnigham can sure show off his athleticism. He will turn 25 in May. Two years ago, he ran a 4.9-second 40-yard dash with a 1.75-second 10-yard split, 35.5-inch vertical leap and 9-foot, 11-inch broad jump at 6-foot-5, 311 pounds at his pro day.

His numbers are pretty good. Since 2000, only Kolton Miller has leap further in the broad jump. Only Joshua Miles has leap higher in the vertical leap. Aviante Collins, Brian O’Neill and Erik McCoy are the only offensive lineman who have ran faster.